Watercraft Launch

ABSTRACT

A watercraft launch for safely launching and retrieving a watercraft in and out of a body of water from an elevated position has a self-adjusting stairway and hull cradle. The watercraft launch is supported for angular movement relative a seawall as the surface of the water moves between different elevations, such as between tides. The self-adjusting stairway has stair treads that move along with the launch in response changing water elevations and adjust to maintain a horizontal position. The hull cradle moveably connected for longitudinal movement along launch between its upper and lower ends.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to launching watercraft, and more particularly, relating to a watercraft launch for launching a watercraft from a vertical elevation, such as from a seawall or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Seawalls are often elevated several feet or more from the surface of the water and the water depth along the seawall can range from a few feet to well over a person's head. Thus, launching watercraft, such as, for example, a kayak, canoe, or paddle board from the seawall and retrieving the watercraft from the water back onto the seawall is difficult and can result in serious personal injury. For example, to launch a kayak, a person will attempt to lower the kayak from the seawall onto the water and then try to lower themselves from the seawall into the kayak. And then attempt to reverse this maneuver when retrieving the kayak from the water. It is easy to appreciate the precarious nature of such a maneuver and the risk of personal injury. Accordingly, there is a need and a desire for a watercraft launch that overcomes the problems associated with launching a watercraft from an elevated position, such as, a seawall or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing problems with launching watercraft from structures that are elevated from surface of water, embodiments of the present invention provide a watercraft launch for safely launching and retrieving a watercraft in and out of a body of water from an elevated position.

In general, in one aspect, a watercraft launch is provided that includes first and second elongated, rigid frame members that are connected together in a spaced apart, parallel extending relationship and are configured for engaging and supporting a watercraft for sliding movement thereon. A watercraft launch further includes a float that supported on the surface of water for vertical movement with the surface of the water. Further, the upper ends of the first and second frame members are pivotally mounted to a structure at a position elevated from the surface of the water and the lower ends of the first and second frame members are attached to the float, whereby the first and second frame members are supported for angular movement relative to the support structure as the surface of the water moves between different elevations. The watercraft launch may also include a hull cradle moveably connected to the first and second frame members for longitudinal movement along the first and second frame members between their upper and lower ends.

In general, in another aspect, the watercraft launch may include a self-adjusting stairway having stair treads that move along with the frame members in response changing water elevations and adjust to maintain a horizontal position.

In general, in another aspect, the watercraft launch may include a plurality of stair treads pivotally supported between the first and second frame member in a spaced apart relationship along the length of the frame members, each stair treads being pivotally connected at a forward end to the first and second frame members and being pivotally connected at a rearward end by a floating spindle.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.

Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings illustrate by way of example and not limitation. For the sake of brevity and clarity, every feature of a given structure is not always labeled in every figure in which that structure appears. Identical reference numbers do not necessarily indicate an identical structure. Rather, the same reference number may be used to indicate a similar feature or a feature with similar functionality, as may non-identical reference numbers. No attempt is made to show structural details of the embodiments in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of watercraft launch constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, illustrating the watercraft launch in-use with a watercraft positioned on the launch;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a watercraft launch constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a watercraft launch constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, illustrating the launch in a raised, horizontal position;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a watercraft launch constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, illustrating in-use, in a lowered position with a person traversing a self-adjusting stairway;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partial perspective view of a watercraft launch constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an end view of a watercraft launch constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, partial side view and partial cross-sectional view of a watercraft launch constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing a self-leveling stair tread assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-8 of the drawings, there is illustrated an embodiment of a watercraft launch 10 that is constructed in accordance with the principals of the present invention. The watercraft launch 10 is used to launch a watercraft 12, representatively shown as a kayak, from a seawall 14 into water 16 and subsequently to retrieve the kayak from the water. The watercraft launch 10 further includes a stairway from the seawall to the water to be used when launching and retrieving the kayak.

In the illustrated embodiment, the watercraft launch 10 includes a pair of elongated, rigid frame members 18 and 20 connected together in a spaced apart, parallel extending relationship. Frame members 18 and 20 are pivotally connected at their upper ends to mounting brackets 22 and 24, respectively, which are secured to the seawall 14. A float 26 is attached to the opposite, lower ends of the frame members 18 and 20, along their undersides. In this manner, the frame members 18 and 20 are supported for angular movement relative to the seawall 14 as the surface of the water 16 moves between different elevations, such as between tides, for example.

As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the top sides of the frame members 18 and 20 are angled inwardly to generally correspond to the angled sides of the kayak hull, similar to typical boat trailer bunks. An elongated skid pad 28 is secured to and extends along each of the top sides of the frame members 18 and 20, and provides a smooth glide surface upon which the hull is able to slide across.

A hull cradle 30 extends between and is movably connected at its opposite ends to the frame members so that the hull cradle moves along the frame members between the upper and lower ends thereof. In the depicted embodiment, tracks 32 and 34 are connected to the outward facing sides of frame members 18 and 20, respectively, and extend along the frame members between their upper and lower ends. A roller slide 36 is received by track 32 and is moveable along the track between its upper and lower ends. Similarly, roller slide 38 is received by track 34 and is moveable along the track between its upper and lower ends. Opposite ends of the hull cradle 30 are attached to the slides 36 and 38, respectively, such that the hull cradle is disposed above the skids 28 and extends across the top side of the frame members. To this end, the hull cradle 30 is movably connected to the frame members for movement between the lower and upper ends thereof

The watercraft launch 10 includes a self-adjusting stairway having stair treads that move along with the frame members in response changing water elevations and adjust to maintain a horizontal position. In the depicted embodiment, the stairway includes a plurality of stair treads 40, a plurality of floating spindles 42, a fix spindle 44, and a handrail 46.

The plurality of stair treads 40 are pivotally supported between the frame members 18 and 20 in a spaced apart relationship along the length of the frame members. Each stair tread 40 is pivotally supported at its forward end 48 by a support bar 50 that extends between and is attached at its opposite ends to the frame members 18 and 20. Each stair tread 40 is also pivotally supported at its rearward end 52 by a floating spindle 42.

More particularly, as depicted, each floating spindle 42 includes a vertical portion 54 that extends upward from the stair tread 40 at a position outwardly of frame member 20 and a horizontal portion 56 that extends perpendicular to the frame members 18 and 20, at a position below the frame members and across the rearward end 52 of the stair tread 40. The bottom or horizontal portion 56 of each floating spindle is to move relative to the frame members in a generally vertical direction. The horizontal portion 56 is connected to the stair tread 40 such that the stair tread is able to pivot about the horizontal portion by journal couplings 58 disposed on opposite lateral sides of the bottom of the stair tread.

The upper end of the vertical portion 54 of each floating spindle 42 is pivotally attached a spaced apart relationship along the length of the handrail 46 by pivot coupling 60. In this manner, each floating spindle 42 vertically depends from the handrail 46, which extends in a vertically spaced and parallel relationship with frame member 20. The shore end of the handrail 46 is pivotally connected to the fixed spindle 44 by pivot coupling 62 and in turn the fixed spindle 44 is fixedly mounted to the seawall 14 by bolts 64, for example.

From the foregoing description, the operation of the watercraft launch 10 will be readily understood. With the upper ends of the frame members 18 and 20 pivotally secured to the seawall 14 and the opposite, lower ends supported by float 26 upon the water 16, a launch is provided that extends from the elevated seawall down to the water, upon which the kayak 12 is capable by being slid in either direction. The self-adjusting stairway provides a means for a person to safely descend and ascend between the seawall 14 and the water 16 during launching and retrieving the kayak. When retrieving the kayak, the cradle 30 supports the forward end of the kayak, thus relieving a portion of the kayak's weight and allowing a person to more easily pull the kayak upward from the water.

A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, while the forgoing description was made in relation to a seawall, the watercraft launch could be secured to any support structure that is elevated from the water surface, such as, for example, and floating dock or other platform. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A watercraft launch comprising: first and second elongated, rigid frame members connected together in a spaced apart, parallel extending relationship for engaging and supporting a watercraft for sliding movement thereon; a float supported on the surface of water for vertical movement with the surface of the water, wherein upper ends of said first and second frame members are pivotally mounted to a structure at a position elevated from the surface of the water and wherein lower ends of said first and second frame members are attached to said float, whereby said first and second frame members are supported for angular movement relative to the support structure as the surface of the water moves between different elevations; and a hull cradle moveably connected to said first and second frame members for longitudinal movement along said first and second frame members between their upper and lower ends.
 2. The watercraft launch of claim 1, further comprising: a first track connected to an outward facing side said first frame member and extend along the said first frame member between its upper and lower ends; a first roller slide received by said first track and moveable along a length of said first track; a second track connected to an outward facing side of said second frame members and extending along said second frame member between its upper and lower ends; a second roller slide received by said first track and moveable along a length of said first track; and wherein a first end of said hull cradle is connected to said first roller slide and a second end of said hull cradle is connected to said second roller slide, whereby said hull cradle extends between said first and second roller slides at a spaced distance above said first and second frames.
 3. The watercraft launch of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of stair treads pivotally supported between the first and second frame member in a spaced apart relationship along the length of the said frame members, each stair treads being pivotally connected at a forward end to said first and second frame members and being pivotally connected at a rearward end by a floating spindle.
 4. The watercraft launch system of claim 3, wherein each of said floating spindles include a horizontal bottom portion that extends perpendicular to said first and second frame members at a position below said first and second frame members and across its corresponding stair tread, and wherein said rearward end being pivotally connected to said horizontal bottom portion.
 5. A watercraft launch comprising: first and second elongated, rigid frame members connected together in a spaced apart, parallel extending relationship for engaging and supporting a watercraft for sliding movement thereon; a float supported on the surface of water for vertical movement with the surface of the water, wherein upper ends of said first and second frame members are pivotally mounted to a structure at a position elevated from the surface of the water and wherein lower ends of said first and second frame members are attached to said float, whereby said first and second frame members are supported for angular movement relative to the support structure as the surface of the water moves between different elevations; a hull cradle moveably connected to said first and second frame members for longitudinal movement along said first and second frame members between their upper and lower ends; and a plurality of stair treads pivotally supported between the first and second frame member in a spaced apart relationship along the length of the said frame members and wherein each stair tread moves with said first and second frame members in response changing water elevations and adjust to maintain a horizontal position.
 6. The watercraft launch of claim 5, further comprising: a first track connected to an outward facing side said first frame member and extend along the said first frame member between its upper and lower ends; a first roller slide received by said first track and moveable along a length of said first track; a second track connected to an outward facing side of said second frame members and extending along said second frame member between its upper and lower ends; a second roller slide received by said first track and moveable along a length of said first track; and wherein a first end of said hull cradle is connected to said first roller slide and a second end of said hull cradle is connected to said second roller slide, whereby said hull cradle extends between said first and second roller slides at a spaced distance above said first and second frames.
 7. The watercraft launch of claim 6, wherein each stair tread is pivotally connected at a forward end to said first and second frame members and is pivotally connected at a rearward end by a floating spindle.
 8. The watercraft launch of claim 7, wherein each of said floating spindles include a horizontal bottom portion that extends perpendicular to said first and second frame members at a position below said first and second frame members and across its corresponding stair tread, and wherein said rearward end being pivotally connected to said horizontal bottom portion.
 9. The watercraft launch of claim 5, wherein each stair tread is pivotally connected at a forward end to said first and second frame members and is pivotally connected at a rearward end by a floating spindle.
 10. The watercraft launch of claim 9, wherein each of said floating spindles include a horizontal bottom portion that extends perpendicular to said first and second frame members at a position below said first and second frame members and across its corresponding stair tread, and wherein said rearward end being pivotally connected to said horizontal bottom portion. 